Coco Gauff Fights Back and Ousts Bencic in Beijing Round of 16

Trailing by a set and a break, on the edge of the cliff, Coco Gauff found the resources to come back into the match against a relentless Belinda Bencic.

She was thought to be on borrowed time, on the verge of elimination. Coco Gauff proved that in critical moments, it's her will to win that speaks the loudest. The 21-year-old American prevailed against Belinda Bencic in the round of 16 of the Beijing WTA 1000 (4-6, 7-6, 6-2), after a battle lasting nearly two and a half hours.

Down a break in the second set, the defending champion seemed out of it. Bencic was executing her game plan. But it was precisely in this danger zone, this tennis no man's land, that Gauff proved to be the most formidable.

Just when all seemed lost, the American launched an unstoppable surge. First by snatching the tie-break (7-4) and then by pulling away thanks to a rediscovered efficiency (3-3 break points).

In the quarterfinals, Coco Gauff will face McCartney Kessler or Eva Lys. She will be the favorite, of course. But this round of 16 match served as a reminder: nothing is ever lost or won in advance. With this victory, the US Open champion also confirms her strong momentum in Beijing: defending champion and 3 consecutive quarterfinals.